The biggest landlord licensing scheme outside London has taken stock after the first year of operation.
The Nottingham City Council selective licensing project covers more than 32,000 buy to lets and shared houses in the city.
In a recent state of the scheme update, the council reports landlords have applied for 17,000 licences despite failing to have one being a criminal offence.
Since August 2018, the council has issued 22 civil penalties costing landlords £84,173 and started five criminal prosecutions.
The highest fine was £12,242, while the average was £4,208.
Councillor Linda Woodings, Nottingham’s portfolio holder for planning, housing and heritage, said: “This scheme has already helped to improve rented properties across the city and it is important that landlords get the homes they own licensed and work with the council to help improve renting standards in the city and make lives better for tenants living in these homes.”
A five-year licence is £780 for a landlord not signed up to the council’s training scheme, while those that register pay £480.
The council has raised £8 million from licensing to fund the scheme.
“The council is not allowed to generate income from the scheme and so all money goes back into the scheme – at present the scheme has raised £8 million and the funds have gone towards setting up and will continue to go towards the running of the scheme,” said a council spokesman.
“Most of the income comes in the first year, however costs are spread over five years.
The latest prosecution involved landlord Sanaur Rahman, 48, who was ordered to pay £7,750 in fines and costs for renting out an unlicensed share house with nine tenants.
After the hearing, Cllr Woodings said: “He is well known to our Safer Housing Team and has been prosecuted in the past for failing to licence a house of multiple occupation, and has previously admitted failings around the maintenance of firefighting equipment and smoke alarms.
“Unfortunately it seems that Rahman has continually placed profit ahead of ensuring that his property was suitable and safe for the numbers of people renting from him.”
